100 Historical Stories That Unlock Teenage Wisdom

Chapter 78

Chapter 85 Fan Wencheng Advises Qing Rulers on Benevolence and Justice

——Mountains and seas are a big deal. Some people have to be reasonable and don't forgive others, and some people can't be reasonable and don't forgive others.Although I got a little satisfaction in my spirit, I lost the hearts of others.

Fan Wencheng's great-grandfather was the Minister of War in the Ming Dynasty. In 1618, when Nurhachi captured Fushun, Fan Wencheng went to see Nurhachi and expressed his intention to serve him.Nurhachi deliberately questioned Fan Wencheng and said: "After you became a famous official of Ming Dynasty, you should have been loyal to Ming Dynasty, why did you betray Ming Dynasty and vote for me?"

Fan Wencheng replied: "Your Majesty of the Ming Dynasty, the people are suffering. I am not a corrupt Confucian, so I will never be foolish and loyal forever."

After talking with him, Nurhachi saw that he had seen people well, was witty and talented, and cherished him very much. He said to Gebeile: "To seize the world, a talent like Fan Wencheng should be of great use. He doesn't think of us as rebellious, which shows that he has unique skills." Eyes of wisdom; when we conquer the Central Plains, we can't treat people as traitors, so we can win the hearts of the people. This principle was taught to me by Fan Wencheng, and you all have to treat him kindly."

After Huang Taiji came to the throne, he paid more attention to Fan Wencheng and asked him to accompany him. In 1631, the Qing army recruited the officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty guarding the city, but the Mongolian soldiers who had surrendered rebelled again and wanted to kill their generals, but the matter failed.Huang Taiji was furious and wanted to kill all the Mongolian soldiers. Fan Wencheng reminded him: "Your Majesty used force to force them to surrender temporarily. It is expected that they will not surrender sincerely. They will rebel again and will die sooner." Putting it aside, His Majesty killed them to vent his personal anger, but it did too much harm to win people's hearts, and this matter cannot be done." Huang Taiji was still angry, and said: "In the battlefield, killing is inevitable. If only benevolence and righteousness are applied, people will If you don't fear punishment, won't there be too many traitors, and the soldiers won't fight?"

Fan Wencheng argued: "Ming people don't know my kindness, so resistance is natural. If your majesty can spread kindness and kill less and benefit more, people's hearts will gradually become attached to me. Forgiving them can only divide the enemy's camp. Your majesty's good name, and using it to conquer the world, has the effect of millions of troops, your majesty should not be underestimated."

After hearing his words, Huang Taiji couldn't help nodding, and pardoned the death penalty of those Mongolian soldiers.When the news came out, the fighting spirit of the Ming army sticking to the West Mountain collapsed. Fan Wencheng single-handedly persuaded them to surrender, but they all put down their weapons.

Fan Wencheng planned major events for Huang Taiji, and often advised him on strategies to conquer the hearts of the people.He persuaded Huang Taiji to cultivate morality and self-cultivation, educate the people, and carry out virtuous government. Huang Taiji could not leave him at all times.Whenever there was an important matter, he always said to the minister: "Does Fan Zhangjing know about this?" When Fan Wencheng was sick at home, Huang Taiji was not in a hurry to deal with some major government affairs, and made a decision until he recovered from his illness.Some ministers were jealous of Fan Wencheng, and said to Huang Taiji: "After Fan Zhangjing finally became a Ming minister, as a Han, he may not have the same heart with me. In the name of collecting people's hearts, he is always facing the Han. Doesn't he have his selfish intentions?" ? Your Majesty favors him too much, so he should have some reservations."

Huang Taiji reprimanded them and said: "The first emperor and I treated him sincerely, not forcing him to serve. His loyalty is beyond doubt. Although you are Manchus, how many relatives of the emperor have opposed me? I treat people with all my heart. However, there are many people who don't know my heart, and I can never pursue it again and again, and I can't stop being kind. This is the result of Fan Zhangjing's teaching. Otherwise, you people who are jealous of the virtuous and capable, can you still stand here and talk to me?"

After Shunzhi Emperor Fulin ascended the throne, Prince Rui Dorgon led an army to crusade against the Ming Dynasty.Fan Wencheng worried that Dorgon was cruel and easy to kill, so he quickly wrote a letter saying: "The people of the Central Plains regard me as a rebel against the Qing Dynasty, and they are bound to resist desperately. If the king uses violence to control violence and kills as his ability, it will be difficult to pacify the Central Plains. In the past, we gave up The massacre of the people in Yongping in Zunhua City has already made the people of the Central Plains have deep doubts about us. If we do not impose restrictions in the future, the great cause of unifying the world will be difficult to complete. The king should strictly enforce discipline, and let the officials of the Ming Dynasty take up their original positions. , to restore the people’s family property, to recruit talented people, and to care for those who are in difficult situations. Use the Grand Duke to convey the benevolence of our dynasty, and use actions to dispel the doubts of the world. This stabilizes the people, and the rebels will return. We met resistance will be reduced.”

After Beijing was captured by the Qing army, Dorgon followed Fan Wencheng's suggestion to hold a funeral for Emperor Chongzhen, appease the people in the war, use abandoned officials, search for hidden and escaped celebrities, and re-enact laws and regulations.These measures and actions played a considerable role in winning the hearts of the people, and laid the foundation for the Qing Dynasty to finally pacify the world.

Wisdom Interpretation:

A disciple of Confucius once asked him, if he could use one word to explain the secret of being in the world, which word should it be.Confucius said: "Is it forgiving? Do not do to others what you do not want to do to yourself." It means to tolerate others, and do not impose on others what you do not want to happen to you.

Tolerance is a kind of power, it relies on wisdom, it wins people's hearts, and it wins victory.

(End of this chapter)